ISLAMABAD — A Pakistani government proposal to impose tax on the birth of more than two children is causing furor across the south Asian Muslim country as a violation of the Islamic teachings. "The proposal is completely in contravention of Qur'an and Sunnah," Mufti Mohammad Naeem, head of the International Binoria University, told IslamOnline on Friday, July 3.

Population minister Firdous Ashiq Awan has proposed a legislation to impose tax on the birth of more than two children to stop the population growth in the country.

"My proposal should be considered seriously because this is the question of our coming generations," Awan told the parliament.

Islamic View of Birth Control Mutual Agreement to Delay Pregnancy "The growing population is creating many social and economic problems, including deteriorating law and order and terrorism." But Pakistani scholars ridiculed the minister's argument.

"Law and order and terrorism have nothing to do with population," Mufti Naeem said.

"It's purely administrative issue. It's like that instead of alleviating poverty, alleviate the poor.

He said bad governance and unjust distribution of resources are to blame for terrorism and disorder.

"And the government ministers instead of improving their performance are blabbing without even thinking that it's against Shari`ah," he said.

Pakistan has a population of 170 million, the second most populous Muslim country after Indonesia.

Violation

  Scholars and lawyers warned that the proposal also runs against the basic fundamental rights.   "What does the government want to achieve by levying this tax? Will it control the crime rate and suicide bombings through this tax?," asked scholar Aamir Liaquat Hussein.

Hussein believes that the proposal would not be enforced.

"This is only an effort to convert a non-issue into an issue," he said.

"How can the government force the people not to have more than two kids? This is an affair which must be settled down by husband and wife.

"Allah has made it clear in noble Qur'an that don't kill your children due to fear of hunger. When a boy is born, he is not merely born with a stomach but also with two hands to work and earn."

Saadia Peerzada, a local lawyer, agrees.

"I don't think that the parliament will even consider this proposal seriously," she said.

"It needs some serious legislation, and I believe the proposal will not get the required numbers for its implementation.

"Birth control is very much a personal issue, and it could not be dealt by imposing any kind of taxation."

Scholars urged the government to drop the controversial proposal.

"If there is a question of woman's health, then birth control is allowed, because the human life is more important. But there is no room for a ban (on more children) on the part of government," Mufti Naeem said.

"The government must desist from even considering this proposal as according to the 1973 constitution of the country, no law repugnant to Qur'an and Sunnah can be made in Pakistan.

"The government has no right whatsoever to force the people for birth control. It is their personal issue," he said.

"It has to face a tough resistance if it does that."